Underrated films

[chickenfeet]

Tell me about a film you think is under-rated or, at least, doesn't enjoy the popularity it deserves. Everybody knows about films like Lawrence of Arabia or Dr. Zhivago and the rest. What I want to hear about are some less well known gems.

My nomination would be The Duellists. It's based on a story by Joseph Conrad and was directed by Ridley Scott before he was famous. It has a fantastic cast; David Carradine, Harvey Keitel, Tom Conti, Albert Finney, Edward Fox, and it evokes the Napoleonic era better than any other film I can think of. It's lovely to look at and compelling from beginning to end. If you've never seen it, rush out and rent the DVD.

Comments

[melted-snowball.livejournal.com]

I've been surprised in the last year, as I've enthused to people about the "Up" series, at how few people have seen them.

[albionwood.livejournal.com]

Well, shoot - that would have been my #1 rec! It is one of my all-time favorite movies; almost every shot is a gem. Pretty well-known among a certain circle of friends (historical re-enactors and costumers). I loved it so much I have a bespoke 7th Hussar uniform.

So here's another: 1776, (http://www.amazon.com/1776-Restored-Directors-William-Daniels/dp/B000067D1R/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/104-1399956-2993563?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1180802118&sr=8-1) based on the Broadway play. Focuses on the people, rather than the events. Wonderful acting, and some good singing as well ("Molasses to Rum to Gold"). We've made an annual ritual of watching it every July 4, as a sort of counterbalance to the usual jingoism.

[shezan.livejournal.com]

René Allio's La Vieille Dame Indigne, and perhaps even better, his Les Camisards, certainly the only movie written in believable 17th-century French, about the rebel Huguenots of the Cévennes and the Ardèche.

[helianthas.livejournal.com]

Spice World.

[knirirr.livejournal.com]

The Duellists is indeed good.
How about this (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somewhere_in_Time_(film))?

A few more faves...

[albionwood.livejournal.com]

I think The Long Riders (http://www.amazon.com/Long-Riders-David-Carradine/dp/B000056H2J/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/104-1399956-2993563?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1180818192&sr=8-1) is underrated. (Not a patch on Tombstone, but that's a much better-known movie.) But it's certainly not in the same league as The Duellists.

A Room With a View is another big fave, but it got a bunch of Oscar noms so probably doesn't fit your criteria. It is a marvelous film. ("Poor Charlotte.")

We just recently rented Memento (http://www.amazon.com/Memento-Jr-Mark-Boone/dp/B00003CXZ4/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/104-1399956-2993563?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1180818847&sr=8-1), which is awesomely good. The rarest of birds: an original movie. Really got into my head.

Also Dead Again (http://www.amazon.com/Dead-Again-Jo-Anderson/dp/6305882525/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/104-1399956-2993563?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1180819275&sr=8-1) is good, though there is some disagreement about how good. I admit the plot does not hold up well on close inspection, and the ending is not entirely satisfying - but there are some wonderful moments, and really great actors. The Robin Williams cameo is breathtaking.

Come to think of it, I'm looking for more of the lesser-known gems, like Duellists, myself.

[intertext.livejournal.com]

Just a few random samples, all very worthwhile if you haven't seen them:

Picnic At Hanging Rock (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0073540/) Early Peter Wier, haunting, beautiful.

Heavenly Creatures (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0110005/) Early Peter Jackson, first (?) and memorable Kate Winslet, true story

The Sure Thing (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090103/) Early Rob Reiner, John Cusack. Surprisingly charming and delightful variation on road movie/teen romance genre flick.

[intertext.livejournal.com]

Oh! Oh! Oh! I've just remembered another one, that I think is truly underrated - Oscar and Lucinda (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119843/)! Ralph Feinnes and Cate Blanchett, Australia, beautifully shot, Ralph Feinnes is heartbreaking: I think it's the best thing he's done, and he's always wonderful.

[besideserato.livejournal.com]

Have you seen Madeinusa (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0476298/)?

[shezan.livejournal.com]

Oh, if you haven't seen it - Warren Beatty's Reds Marvellous movie about the idea of the Revolution filtered through innocent American eyes. (None of the American "toughies" in the film - Emma would, and occasionally does, hold for five minuets against Jerzy Kosinski's fantastic Zinoviev.)

[shezan.livejournal.com]

Oh, if you haven't seen it - Warren Beatty's Reds Marvellous movie about the idea of the Revolution filtered through innocent American eyes. (None of the American "toughies" in the film - Emma Goldman, Eugene O'Neill - would, and occasionally does, hold for five minuets against Jerzy Kosinski's fantastic Zinoviev.)

[a-d-medievalist.livejournal.com]

Would Withnail and I (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094336/) count?

[a-d-medievalist.livejournal.com]

Also, I have a very soft spot for another Tom Conti film, American Dreamer (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086886/)